Copenhagen: : The other point to be made here is that democracies give to the individual a realm of private activity that is free from coercion. JJ: No, the rule of law does that. Most think, and I tend to agree, taht limited democracy is the most effective and efficient manner of upholding the rule of law.
Well, perhaps as well, but notions of democracy and liberty are bedfellows... A democratic society must necessarily have certain freedoms, else it stops being democratic
Copenhagen: :Into such a private sphere the legislature is usually unwilling to venture. As such individuals are free from the majority rule in this sphere.
: Medicare, Medicaid, the drug war, farm subsidies, abortion for public schoold teens and we could go on.
Sorry, perhaps i should not have made that so definite. It is all a question of legislative policy. the position i was taking was more or less Milll's harm principle. This is just a starting point though and on top of it can be placed legal paternalism, etc... which explains your complaint.
: : As to the lack of a link between parliamentary reps and the people, well that is unfortunately to a degree true. But if people were not so passive in their polotics then such things could not happen. Indeed there is no such thing as a 'passive' democracy; the price that one must pay is eternal vigilence.
: 100% agreed. Your analysis is completely correct that good societies do not make good people but good people do make a good society. Please inform Deathy of this.
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